14 Best Heat Protectant Sprays That Shield Your Hair, According to Experts

There's no denying it, hot tools are clutch when you're doing your hair. Blow dryers help set the foundation for a seamless silk press while curling wands achieve flowing beach waves in no time. Before you grab your go-to styling tool, though, it's a must that you apply a heat protectant spray. "Heat protectants can help reduce irreversible damage to the hair that high heat can cause," board-certified dermatologist and XYON Medical Director Dr. Christina Han tells Seventeen. Along with protecting against damage, the best heat-protectant sprays, oils, and creams also help tame flyaways. Think about it. Have you ever noticed your strands look a little dull after a straightening sesh? Maybe your curls are having a bit of trouble reverting after a silk press. Chances are, your hair is very likely experiencing some sort of heat damage.

Andrew Fitzsimons, a celebrity hairstylist with A-list clients like the KarJenners, says heat protectant sprays are a nonnegotiable for his famous clients. "My number one rule is to always use a good heat protectant, it’s the first and most important step in creating any great look. They are so important and so efficient."

Are heat protectant sprays effective, and how do they work?

Some hair styling products aren't effective on all hair textures and types, but heat protectant sprays work for everyone. According to Dr. Han, "the structure of the hair has water and keratin internally with a cuticular layer to protect the hair." When you apply heat from your fave hot tools, "it causes the water in the hair to evaporate out and structurally damages the hair," resulting in dry, limp, and frizzy hair. Heat protectant sprays are effective because they "provide a barrier to the hair and help to lock in moisture that can get lost" when using hot tools.

"Heat protectants provide a layer of protection between the heat source and the hair" and help reduce "structural damage," Dr. Han explains. "It will help to smooth down the outer cuticle giving the hair a shinier and smoother surface while locking in moisture in the hair, namely the water and the keratin that gives our hair structure and strength."

Fitzsimons recommends heat styling and blow drying your hair "within an hour of spraying the protectant on your hair to maximize its effectiveness." Dr. Han agrees and reveals that heat protectant sprays "can last up to four hours on the hair." So even if you're restyling try hair, don't forget to apply a heat protectant before touching your hair again with a hot tool.

Look for these ingredients

• Oils or silicones
• Proteins and amino acids
• Antioxidants
• Humectants

Dr. Han recommends these ingredients because they provide nourishing and strengthening properties to help improve its condition. Oils or silicones "seal in moisture and give the cuticles and hair a shinier appearance," she says. Proteins "provide strength to already heat damaged hair," while antioxidants, like vitamin E, "off protection to the hair from stress from environmental factors like pollution, UV rays, and heat," she continues. Humectants, like panthenol, draw moisture and humidity from the environment into the hair."

Before you grab your fave heat styling tool, read ahead for the best heat protectant sprays to help banish flyaways and prevent damage.